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English lesson plan · 6th grade (Year 7 in England) · 60 minutes

Confusing pairs: then/than, lose/loose, accept/except, quiet/quite

Grammar

CCSS L.6.1CCSS L.7.1England: KS3 English (spelling and Standard English)England: GCSE English Language (AO6 SPaG)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Confusing pairs: then/than, lose/loose, accept/except, quiet/quite.

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: their/there/they're, its/it's, your/you're, whose/who's

Leads to: Easily confused words: complement/compliment, imply/infer, elicit/illicit…

Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 6 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (their/there/they're, its/it's, your/you're, whose/who's). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the correct word or words for the gap. Is this ___ bike? (you're / your) → yourPrompt: Try expanding the contraction: does 'they are', 'it is', 'you are' or 'who is' make sense?
  2. Which sentence is correct? • Who's the author whose book won the prize? • Whose the author whose book won the prize? • Whose the author who's book won the prize? • Who's the author who's book won the prize? (Who's the author whose book won the prize? / Whose the author whose book won the prize? / Whose the author who's book won the prize? / Who's the author who's book won the prize?) → Who's the author whose book won the prize?Prompt: Check each tricky word one at a time.
  3. Choose the correct word or words for the gap. The company changed ___ logo. (its / it's) → itsPrompt: Try expanding the contraction: does 'they are', 'it is', 'you are' or 'who is' make sense?

Hook · 6 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Confusing pairs: then/than, lose/loose, accept/except, quiet/quite. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 12 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Choose the correct word for the gap. If we ___ this match, we're out of the cup.
  • Step 1: These pairs sound or look alike but have different meanings and jobs.
  • Step 2: 'lose' (one o) = fail to win or misplace.
  • Step 3: Put it back into the sentence and read it aloud: "If we lose this match, we're out of the cup."
  • Step 4: So the answer is: lose
  • Answer: lose
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 12 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Choose the correct word for the gap. It's ten ___ four. (past / passed) → pastPrompt: Say the sentence aloud. Which meaning does the gap need?
  2. Each sentence has one wrong word. Type the word that should replace it. My shoelace is lose. → loosePrompt: Find the word that is spelled like a real word but means something else.

You do: independent practice · 17 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 7 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Choose the correct word for the gap. My sister is taller ___ me. (then / than) → thanPrompt: Say the sentence aloud. Which meaning does the gap need?
  2. Each sentence has one wrong word. Type the word that should replace it. We past the station at noon. → passedPrompt: Find the word that is spelled like a real word but means something else.

Watch out for

  • Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
  • Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: their/there/they're, its/it's, your/you're, whose/who's.
  • Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Move on to: Easily confused words: complement/compliment, imply/infer, elicit/illicit….
  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-6.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

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Confusing pairs: then/than, lose/loose, accept/except, quiet/quite

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Choose the correct word for the gap. Remember to ___ slowly.

    • A. breathe
    • B. breath
  2. Question 2

    Each sentence has one wrong word. Type the word that should replace it. We past the station at noon.

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    Choose the correct word for the gap. Everyone came ___ Raj, who was ill.

    • A. except
    • B. accept
  4. Question 4

    Each sentence has one wrong word. Type the word that should replace it. This bag is to heavy.

    Answer

  5. Question 5

    Choose the correct word for the gap. First we ate, and ___ we played cards.

    • A. than
    • B. then
  6. Question 6

    Each sentence has one wrong word. Type the word that should replace it. Don't loose your ticket!

    Answer

  7. Question 7

    Each sentence has one wrong word. Type the word that should replace it. I'd rather read then watch TV.

    Answer

  8. Question 8

    Choose the correct word for the gap. Please ___ this small gift.

    • A. except
    • B. accept

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Answer key: Confusing pairs: then/than, lose/loose, accept/except, quiet/quite

  1. 1. A. breathe

  2. 2. passed

  3. 3. A. except

  4. 4. too

  5. 5. B. then

  6. 6. lose

  7. 7. than

  8. 8. B. accept

Lesson plan | Eurekami